IvanCU

Having stayed at very few Asian resorts (Conrad Bali was our only one so far) what is the tipping etiquette for Conrad Maldives? Do you tip individuals as you get service, or assign tips to your bill for the various staff at the end of the trip?

And do you bother getting Maldivian rufiyaa or is there any advantage to the staff to give USD in cash?

I know there are a lot of schools of thought on this but I would appreciate any insight as to what is fair and what might get you truly exceptional service.

gnomey

do you only see the more colorful corals when swim further out? bc i dont recall seeing any (that looks alive) around the overwater villa areas.


Ah i see. thanks for the explanation, appreciate it!

better underwater wildlife viewing there, or in conrad maldives?
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IvanCU

We're arriving on April 23 for a seven night stay, and booked the water villa at 95k points. We were offered an upgrade to Superior Water Villa at $110.88 USD inclusive of tax per night. Seemed reasonable to me so we're doing that.

lhrhappy

I tipped at the time of service. There is no opportunity to assign anything at the end of the trip.

Don't bother. USD is the resort currency.

tom-schmitt

Of course also many dead Corals at the Park Hyatt Maldives, but more colorful corals left.
Wildlife superb, we saw lots of clownfish, sharks, two different turtles.
Water during snorkeling was warmer than in CR and no waves at all, but that may be because of the season. (Been to Rangali during christmas and to Park Hyatt during Easter time)

MaldivesFreak

Most people from the US like to give extra tips even though there is a 10% service charge which is distributed evenly among the staff. And most people give tips on the last day and individually to each person they feel worthy of it. That way it goes to the individual rather than split between more than 500 staff.

No need whatsoever to get local currency as the staff there receive extra tips in USD.

You have to keep in mind that it's a Conrad which has high standards to begin with, and this is the Maldives where the locals are exceptionally friendly and competent at what they do so you aren't going to get a different level of service if you tip big rather than small, tip rather than not tip, etc. There is one exception and that is if you tip big you will get a soft toy!*




(Sorry, house joke. See the posts regarding Conrad soft toys further back in the thread and on this page to get it)

MaldivesFreak

Actually you can leave something for the staff at the end of your stay. You just need to specify how much and for who. For example, on one of our stays our deposit was just a little over the actual bill so I just told them not to bother refunding the cash (used cash that time, not a CC) and it was on the final bill as a gratuity. We've also left items for individuals after check-out. Just put whatever you want to leave in an envelope (or bag, depending on what it is) with the staff member's name on it and give it to the front desk. Just make sure that if it's not the room boy or the host, be sure to check with the FD that the name you've written is specific enough, i.e; For Mohammed in F&B isn't going to cut it because there's more than likely 2 or 3 or more Mohammeds in each department.

passionforhotels

Coral bleaching is to do with water temperature. If the surrounding water was cooler, then the coral won't bleach as badly. I would guess that as the water tends to be deeper in the south, it may have kept a degree or two cooler. As I wrote, corals in locations where cooler water from depths was constantly cooling it did better than those that got hit by warmer water.

Carl Christensen

tom-schmitt

Today new information about the new underwater suite called „The Muraka“ were published:

joecool1885

Excited until I saw "accomodates 9". That means probably 8-12K a night. I'd pay 3,500 for a single night as a super-treat (almost did SunWV at 2K for a night until I found out I would not get #50). But some things remain out of reach.

Meanwhile an article on WA Maldives features an image that seems to imply they will have an underwater suite, but no details offered.

tom-schmitt

When we there in Dec./January we were told that the rates will probably be around 30.000$/night .
Guests of the underwater suite willeven have their own seaplane pier!
So absolute privacy, no contact to other guests needed. They want to attract people, who normally would charter a yacht and are traveling with their own nannies, security, ..

lhrhappy

So, upgrades from a BV will be only $29,000++?

ukinny2000

I had emailed about upgrading for one or two nights to the Muraka, and this was the response I got :

Which is a long, polite way of telling me, "If you have to ask, you can't afford it"

metcon123

Just got back from Conrad Maldives and have not seen my HHonors points posted to my account yet. How long does it take for the spend to be posted usually? Been back for 1.5 weeks now.

Thanks all!